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Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll
Completely updated with new entries and extensive revisions of the previous 1,800, The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia Of Rock & Roll is the authoritative volume on the world's music makers—from the one-hit wonders to the megastars.
In 1983, Rolling Stone Press introduced its first Rock & Roll Encyclopedia. Almost two decades later, it has become the premier guide to the history of rock & roll, and has been selected by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum as its official source of information. Giving full coverage to all aspects of the rock scene, it tells the story of rock & roll in a clear and easy reference format, including complete discographies, personnel changes for every band, and backstage information like date and place of birth, from Elvis Presley to Eminem.
Since the last edition, the music scene has exploded in every area, from boy-bands to hip-hop, electronica to indie rock. Here, the Encyclopedia explores them all—'NSync, Notorious B.I.G., Ricky Martin, Radiohead, Britney Spears, Blink-182, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Portishead, Fatboy Slim, Fiona Apple, Lil' Kim, Limp Bizkit, Oasis, Outkast, Yo La Tengo, TLC, and many, many more. The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, Third Edition includes all the facts, phenomena, and flukes that make up the history of rock. Accompanying the biographical and discographical information on the nearly 2,000 artists included in this edition are incisive essays that reveal the performers' musical influences, first breaks, and critical and commercial hits and misses, as well as evaluations of their place in rock history. Filled with hundreds of historical photos, The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia is more than just a reference book, it is the bible of rock & roll.
In 1983, Rolling Stone Press introduced its first Rock & Roll Encyclopedia. Almost two decades later, it has become the premier guide to the history of rock & roll, and has been selected by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum as its official source of information. Giving full coverage to all aspects of the rock scene, it tells the story of rock & roll in a clear and easy reference format, including complete discographies, personnel changes for every band, and backstage information like date and place of birth, from Elvis Presley to Eminem.
Since the last edition, the music scene has exploded in every area, from boy-bands to hip-hop, electronica to indie rock. Here, the Encyclopedia explores them all—'NSync, Notorious B.I.G., Ricky Martin, Radiohead, Britney Spears, Blink-182, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Portishead, Fatboy Slim, Fiona Apple, Lil' Kim, Limp Bizkit, Oasis, Outkast, Yo La Tengo, TLC, and many, many more. The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, Third Edition includes all the facts, phenomena, and flukes that make up the history of rock. Accompanying the biographical and discographical information on the nearly 2,000 artists included in this edition are incisive essays that reveal the performers' musical influences, first breaks, and critical and commercial hits and misses, as well as evaluations of their place in rock history. Filled with hundreds of historical photos, The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia is more than just a reference book, it is the bible of rock & roll.
1115 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2001
15 people are currently reading
890 people want to read
About the author
Rolling Stone Magazine
858 books38 followersRolling Stone is a U.S.-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner (who is still editor and publisher) and music critic Ralph J. Gleason.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 3, 2009
Though weakened by Rolling Stone's propensity for snobbery and an occasionally sketchy definition of the term "rock & roll," this weighty tome is nevertheless a golden reference volume. It's a satisfying time-killer as well: flip to virtually any page, and odds are you'll learn something you didn't know. Terrific fun for any would-be rock scholar.
December 22, 2018
I have read this cover to cover and I still refer to it. I have the first copy and this one. I wish they would update this book every so often. Say every 5 years or so. But I love to dig it out every now and then and sit in front of YouTube and see if I agree. If I agree I will collect the CD's to listen to again and again. I also like how the authors of the book keep the roots of blues dominant through out the book.
Read
October 22, 2010The particular volume I'm refering to is the original 1983 edition. A marvelous introduction to who's who's in this genre of music and is one of the few tomes of this (the later ones were too big, no intimacy) covers right up to the time Jacko released Thriller. The 2nd of the vital trilogy of Rolling Stone Magazine (The red-cover Record Guide & Rock of Ages being the others)
November 29, 2017
my paperback
August 18, 2020
Wow, I truly read through the whole encyclopedia from A to ZZ. The fun of the reviews and the emerging influence of artists melding throughout American Rock and Roll, Jazz, Zydeco, et. al. was truly amazing. Took two months to review due to the fact I kept going to my big screen 14'*9" projection and pulling up you tube videos of all of their great performances. Talk about reading and video coming together. This was really, really fun during the pandemic and I would highly recommend this and the history of cinema in doing the same thing.
December 25, 2021
This was an invaluable tome in the pre-smart phone era. Still quite fun to page through but maybe not as essential to own for a record collector as it was in 1995.
May 10, 2022
LOL, the best of the magazine issues then and now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2023
I love reading the books based on the magazine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 27, 2023Edited...to say this isn't the book cover or author originally uploaded on Shelfari. No idea what this was when I first put it on my shelf.
August 14, 2019
This book was so awesome.
March 21, 2017
1st Read: April 9, 1991 - November 2, 1991 (*** Rating)
When this fascinating book about music arrived in our home in the autumn of 1983, I was beside myself in happiness! Music was a huge part of our upbringing as children, and to this day, aside from two of my sisters, all of us listen to music more than we watch television.
I was twelve years old when this book was published. At that point in time, I had been listening to a broad spectrum of sounds. Many of the people my age group were grooving to the New Wave sounds of Culture Club, Missing Persons, A Flock of Seagulls as well as the mainstream artists like Michael Jackson, Alabama, Duran Duran, Men At Work and others. I liked some of that stuff and even owned a few of them. However, I was out for something that I could identify more with, as to who I was. I gravitated to the harder rock that was out there prior to 1982 and 1983. I sill admired some of the stuff on the radio and what my older sisters were listening to all the same.
The book was a great point of reference for me for many years and I still have it. I have to keep it in a plastic bag, folded tight and tucked away in between a couple other books, as the glue no longer holds the pages together!
When I read this book from front to back in 1991, I really noticed how many bands and artists were not included in its pages. A great majority of them were/are Canadian artists. Some of them had been around for years, while some were relatively new artists, including: Triumph, Toronto, Headpins, Bryan Adams, Max Webster, Kim Mitchell - who fronted that band and still tours today, and Edward Bear, Lighthouse and many others.
Not only those bands and artists, where were the Scorpions? Pat Travers? Mötley Crüe? Accept? Girlschool? Whitesnake? All of these bands had been out a few years prior to this book with at least two albums under their belt at the time of writing. I use these bands to clarify my point as there are more of them also not included.
My love of music has grown from early beginnings of my Mom's records of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Neil Diamond to my preteen years enjoying The Bee Gees, Gary Numan, Rick Springfield and others, to my rebellious years as a metal-head.
At 44 years of age today, that musical tree of knowledge is more than just a branch. I had strayed off the mainstream and into the Blues as early as the late 1980's, to Grunge, Dance, and Swing in the mid '90's, Hip-Hop, Alternative and House/Electronica in the 2000's. I have some World music from Pakistan, Iran, Spain, Greece and others. At the same time, I am still purchasing the blistering Metal, Blues from the 1940's up to today, and a wide assortment of other Rock, Country, Contemporary, Easy Listening and other acquired tastes.
I seldom reach for this book anymore as it is not complete in the way it should be for its time. It was a great starter book initially, but as I have grown and music has continued to develop and expand into new forms and sub-genres. More than anything, it is dated. Even with the updated and revised version my room-mate has from 2005, it too sometimes fails us in our searches. Perhaps it is that we are two people who listen to so much more than what mainstream society listens to or is aware of. The musical ocean is deep....dive into it and swim!
When this fascinating book about music arrived in our home in the autumn of 1983, I was beside myself in happiness! Music was a huge part of our upbringing as children, and to this day, aside from two of my sisters, all of us listen to music more than we watch television.
I was twelve years old when this book was published. At that point in time, I had been listening to a broad spectrum of sounds. Many of the people my age group were grooving to the New Wave sounds of Culture Club, Missing Persons, A Flock of Seagulls as well as the mainstream artists like Michael Jackson, Alabama, Duran Duran, Men At Work and others. I liked some of that stuff and even owned a few of them. However, I was out for something that I could identify more with, as to who I was. I gravitated to the harder rock that was out there prior to 1982 and 1983. I sill admired some of the stuff on the radio and what my older sisters were listening to all the same.
The book was a great point of reference for me for many years and I still have it. I have to keep it in a plastic bag, folded tight and tucked away in between a couple other books, as the glue no longer holds the pages together!
When I read this book from front to back in 1991, I really noticed how many bands and artists were not included in its pages. A great majority of them were/are Canadian artists. Some of them had been around for years, while some were relatively new artists, including: Triumph, Toronto, Headpins, Bryan Adams, Max Webster, Kim Mitchell - who fronted that band and still tours today, and Edward Bear, Lighthouse and many others.
Not only those bands and artists, where were the Scorpions? Pat Travers? Mötley Crüe? Accept? Girlschool? Whitesnake? All of these bands had been out a few years prior to this book with at least two albums under their belt at the time of writing. I use these bands to clarify my point as there are more of them also not included.
My love of music has grown from early beginnings of my Mom's records of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Neil Diamond to my preteen years enjoying The Bee Gees, Gary Numan, Rick Springfield and others, to my rebellious years as a metal-head.
At 44 years of age today, that musical tree of knowledge is more than just a branch. I had strayed off the mainstream and into the Blues as early as the late 1980's, to Grunge, Dance, and Swing in the mid '90's, Hip-Hop, Alternative and House/Electronica in the 2000's. I have some World music from Pakistan, Iran, Spain, Greece and others. At the same time, I am still purchasing the blistering Metal, Blues from the 1940's up to today, and a wide assortment of other Rock, Country, Contemporary, Easy Listening and other acquired tastes.
I seldom reach for this book anymore as it is not complete in the way it should be for its time. It was a great starter book initially, but as I have grown and music has continued to develop and expand into new forms and sub-genres. More than anything, it is dated. Even with the updated and revised version my room-mate has from 2005, it too sometimes fails us in our searches. Perhaps it is that we are two people who listen to so much more than what mainstream society listens to or is aware of. The musical ocean is deep....dive into it and swim!
December 17, 2008
My search to own this book finally comes true. Now I don't have to go to my local library whenever I want to do my research. At last I could afford to buy this as new encyclo; at cheap dirt price.Contain rich information. Bravo. Will never finish reading this book. Date I own this book. December 2008
January 9, 2008
The biggest and best of what you want to know about a band.
February 9, 2008
My original copy of this book is completely worn out. I have replaced it with a copy of the 2001 Edition, but I find I still go back to this one, for bands that didn't make the more recent cut.
July 31, 2008
The definitive volume on Rock and Roll. Great articles and a real understanding of the music and its role in modern culture.
March 19, 2009
omg this is awesome
March 24, 2009
This is possibly the greatest reference book of all time
Currently reading
September 11, 2009Awsom e rock and roll information,no metallica, it's the classics in the book,
July 20, 2010
I like the rating system (stars and bullets!) of the Rolling Stone Album Guides, which this book doesn't have. That's why it's an encyclopedia...
November 10, 2011
I actually read a book that did the same thing but came out in the 70's. I can't think of the name of it though so this one will have to do.
September 6, 2012
I usually buy this book for my very closest friends that have great taste in music for birthdays, Christmas, etc..
October 22, 2012
very good compilation of a wide variety of bands. it also is has some good information on each listing. best part is all the discographies.
June 4, 2013
Very informative, but like most of these books, only concentrate on America & England.
June 30, 2016
Good book, some parts were reallly sad
October 18, 2015
No mention of the Afghan Whig drops it a star.
June 28, 2016
Great encyclopedia of its day, but most of the info is probably in the internet.
July 18, 2021
Magazine fluff on popular music.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews